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The Army Air Force (AAF) was the aerial warfare branch of the United States Army during World War II. It was created in 1941 as part of a reorganization of the US Army that separated aviation into its own branch. The AAF played a critical role in World War II, providing air support to ground troops and bombing enemy targets in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific. During the war, the AAF grew to become the largest air force in the world, with over 2.4 million personnel and 80,000 aircraft. The AAF's most famous bomber, the B-17 Flying Fortress, was widely used in bombing missions over Europe. The AAF also made significant contributions to the development of radar and other advanced technologies that would have a lasting impact on aviation. After World War II, the AAF was renamed the United States Air Force and became a separate branch of the military in 1947. The Air Force has continued to play a critical role in national defense, with a wide range of responsibilities including air and space operations, missile defense, and strategic bombing.